David Handler - The Blood Red Indian Summer

Yolie peered at Des. “And what’s Kinitra saying?”

“That she’s in a consensual relationship and they like it rough.”

“Which you don’t believe?”

“No, I do not. Someone’s been raping this girl, Yolie. Someone who either lives in the mansion or has access to it. I think she jumped in that water last night to get away from him-and then decided to try on suicide for size. They’re keeping her here overnight for a psych evaluation. Slipped her in under the media radar. Nobody knows she’s here. Her family would like to keep it that way.”

Toni raised her hand. “Can I ask something, Loo?”

“Put your damned hand down, will you? This ain’t no classroom. What is it you want to ask?”

“Who’s the complainant?”

“There isn’t one.”

“Then what are we doing here?”

“Responding to a resident trooper’s request for assistance.”

“But we’re the Major Crime Squad and, hello, no crime’s been committed.”

“Des thinks otherwise. Sometimes you have to come at things a little sideways.”

Toni shook her big hair. “But how do we write it up?”

“We don’t. Not yet, anyhow. And we stick together. We don’t go running our mouths about this to our cousins and uncles over Sunday dinner, got it?”

“I don’t have Sunday dinner with them anymore,” Toni said defensively. “I’m tired of them trying to fix me up with every wop cop in Connecticut who’s single and under thirty. Like I want to hang with someone who’s exactly like me. I mean, I’d go completely nuts.”

“Let’s go talk to the girl,” Yolie said, starting toward the door with Des.

“What’s my role here?” Toni asked, scampering along behind them.

“Listen and learn,” Yolie answered between gritted teeth.

“Okay, I can do that.”

Kinitra had a private room on a high floor with a view of the Connecticut River. Her orange-streaked up-do was combed out and she wore some grape-colored gloss on her plump young lips. Jamella was seated in a chair next to her bed leafing through a fashion magazine. She’d brought Kinitra a whole stack of them. Also her iPod, which Kinitra was listening to when Des arrived in the doorway with Yolie and Toni.

Kinitra removed her earbuds and smiled. “Hey, Trooper Mitry,” she said in that sing-songy little-girl voice of hers.

Des asked Jamella to step out into the hallway for a moment. Jamella hoisted her huge self out of the chair and joined them. After Des had made the introductions, she said, “We’d like to talk to your sister alone, if you don’t mind.”

Jamella’s eyes narrowed. “You think you might get more out of her if I’m not around. Is that it?”

“We might. It’s certainly worth a try.”

She hesitated. “How do I know you won’t try to bully her?”

“Because we don’t work that way,” Yolie said.

“That’s my baby sister in there. I’m trusting you. Don’t make me sorry.”

“We won’t,” Des promised her.

“I’ll be in the waiting area,” Jamella said, waddling off down the hall.

“God, I love those,” Toni said, watching her go. “I wonder who made them.”

“Made what?” Yolie demanded.

“Her gold sandals.”

“Keep your eye on the ball, Sergeant!”

They went in the room, closing the door behind them.

Kinitra looked at the three of them a bit warily. “Where’s Jamella?”

“She’ll be back soon,” Des said. “These are my friends Yolie and Toni from the Major Crime Squad. They’d like to talk to you some more about what happened.”

“You don’t want to wait for Jamella to come back?”

“It’s just going to be us, okay?” Des kept her voice gentle. “And whatever you tell us stays with us. We won’t repeat a word of it to her if you don’t want us to. You’re an adult. So we’re treating you like one, understand? Now how about you tell us what really happened last night.”

She rolled her big brown eyes. “ Nothing happened. I already told you.”

“The evidence tells us otherwise. So just talk to us, okay? We know you’re afraid. That’s why we’re here. You can count on us to protect you. And we’ll make sure he gets what’s coming to him.”

Kinitra’s hand went to her bruised throat, fingering it gingerly. For a brief moment she seemed genuinely frightened and ready to spill. But then the moment passed and she lowered her hand to her lap and said nothing.

Yolie started in now. “Des told me you’re carrying your boyfriend’s baby.”

“So?…”

“So is he the one who attacked you last night?”

“I wasn’t attacked. I already told her that.”

“Girl, we do this for a living. Stop disrespecting us, will you?”

She blinked at Yolie. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

“For starters, why don’t you tell us about your boyfriend?”

“What’s the deal-you won’t go away until I do?”

Yolie crossed her big arms in front of her chest. “Pretty much.”

“Well, okay,” Kinitra said defeatedly. “But if you repeat one word of this to my sister I’ll swear you made it up. There was… this boy in Glen Cove over the summer. That’s where we were living before Tyrone got suspended. A whole bunch of his teammates lived in the same neighborhood. It was really fun. Somebody was always having a barbeque or showing a movie. Raymond Harris, who plays strong safety, lived right next door. And a boyhood friend of his named Lonnie came to stay with him for a few days. Lonnie Berryman. He plays linebacker for the University of Georgia. He’s a junior this year. Big and strong and so cute. The first time he smiled at me, I swear, all of the breath just went right out of my body. I played him some of my music. He liked it. He liked me. And one thing led to another. You know how that goes. Jamella has this idea that I’m some kind of virgin. I’m not. Boys like me. And I like them. Lonnie… he was definitely a little rough. But I’m cool with that. He also liked to do certain things that some girls don’t like. But I’m cool with that, too, if I really like the guy. And I really liked Lonnie.”

“Let me make sure I’m hearing you,” Yolie said. “You had consensual vaginal and anal sex with Lonnie. He got rough with you but you didn’t mind. And he’s the father of your baby.”

Kinitra nodded her head vigorously. “That’s right.”

“Why didn’t he wear a condom?”

“He doesn’t like to. He says they diminish his pleasure.”

“Why didn’t you insist? I haven’t known you for very long but you don’t seem like a total idiot.”

“Stuff happens,” she answered with a shrug.

“It most certainly does. And where’s Lonnie at now?”

“Back down in Athens playing ball. He was just visiting Raymond for a few days, like I said.”

“Does he know you’re pregnant?”

“No.”

“Why haven’t you told him?”

“We hooked up is all. No promises.”

“Do you do that a lot?” demanded Toni, who’d apparently had her fill of listening and learning.

“Do what?” Kinitra asked, frowning at her.

“Get skanky with guys who you barely know.”

“I like to have fun. And why are you being so nasty?”

“I’m just trying to figure you out.”

“Well, talk nicer to me or I’m going to make you leave.”

Yolie shot a chilly look at Toni, who promptly backed off. Then Yolie softened her gaze at Kinitra and said, “Let’s talk about that party last night.”

“I’ve got nothing to tell you. I didn’t go. Just stayed inside and worked on my music all evening. Little brother Rondell was right across the hall in his office until he went up to bed. By then the party was over and everyone had gone home. But I was totally wired, like I told Trooper Mitry. So I drank me some wine. And smoked some reefer I found out on the patio.”